Carton stack advancing mechanism



June 24, 1958 c, E. KERR ETAL 2,840,375

CARTON STACK ADVANCING MECHANISM Original Filed Sept. 10. 1951 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 l mm an E.

INVENTORS CHARLES E. KERR (D O O O a 3 i l" w ROBERT K. GALLOWAY ATTORNEY OOOOOOOOO June 24, 1958 c. EQKERR ETAL CARTON STACK ADVANCING MECHANISM Original Filed Sept. 10/1951 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 n ma Nu W. s E L R A H 6 ATTORNEY 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTORS is as CHARLES E. KERR ROBERT K. GALLOWAY c. E. KERR ETAL CARTON STACK ADVANCING MECHANISM June 24, 1958 Original Filed Sept. 10. 1951 llllvl 5v) Hww- ATTORNEY United States PatentO 2,840,375 7 CARTON STACK ADVANCING Charles E. Kerr and Robert K. Galloway, Hoopeston, 111.,

assignors to Food Machinery and Chemical Corporation, San Jose, Calif., a corporation of Delaware Original application September It), 1951, Serial No. 245,778, now Patent No. 2,749,118, dated'June 5, 1956. Divided and this application June 22, 1953, Serial No. 363,052

The present invention relates to carton stack advanc: ing mechanisms and more particularly to a mechanism especially suitable for effecting continuous advancement of a stack of flat or collapsed cartons to a high speed carton feeding mechanism of the type adaptable for con: tinuous feeding individual cartons to a carton opening, filling and closing machine.

This application is a division of our co-pending application Serial No. 245,778, filed September 10, 1951 for Carton Feeding Device, now Patent No. 2,749,118, dated June 5, 1956.

One object of the invention is to provide a novel and improved type of carton stackf advancing mechanism.

Another object is to provide a carton stack advancing mechanism which may be easily and quickly replenished with a fresh supply of collapsed cartons without interfering with or interrupting in any way the continuous advancement of the diminishing stack of collapsed cartons currently in the stack holding magazine to the mecha- IllSIIl.

Another object is to provide a carton stack advancing mechanism, which readily permits of replenishment of a diminishing stack of collapsed cartons without causing backward toppling of such cartons or loosening of the compacted cartons in said diminishing stack.

Another object is to provide a carton stack advancing mechanism, which is effective to continuously advance a stack of collapsed cartons and concurrently maintain said stack in a uniformly and thoroughly compacted state.

Another object is to provide a carton stack advancing mechanism, which is effective, Without pause andlin an orderly and proper manner, to automatically advance a stack of collapsed cartons to a carton feeding mechanism for removal thereby of individual cartons from said stack.

Another object is to provide a cartonstack advancing mechanism effective to continuously advance, ,within the stack holding magazine of same, a stack of collapsed cartons, the individual cartons of which may be disposed in various degrees of angularity or obliquity to the axis of said magazine.

Another object is to provide a carton stack advancing mechanism efiective to continuously advance a stack of collapsed cartons regardless, within reasonable limits, of the degree of angularity of obliquity assemed by the rea rnost carton of said staclc relative to the normal axis of the latter. s g

' n e b ec s is c isl a sem st k advsa ihs m hani m emplo i inde endently erasable s a i a vancin si visss' h sh ma h s e t e utilized in e ternation or may be utilized jointly to effect advancement of a stack of collapsed cartons withint-he stack holding magazine or said mechanism and/or which'rnay be selectively retracted in alternation or may be jointly retracted as desired andideemed expedient. T J

Another object is to provide a novel-carton stack adlvancing device which may e employed wi h pa t s i a advant ge an espe ia ?e estivshss ina slzui h a its 2 M a is s i h m zi of h h riz ta sra sd i s r m h sh' l s t s h s? s hd v dse i ii s moved at a high speed. i I

An e Qhis st i is' svis a eria asis ss vsas ha m n sm h sh b' senses i d sfl sis i1 P a e th i' iis p s. f ss l r s's sa i ssihh mechanisms of the high speed type. 7 7

he i si a d ad an a f th as en i vest sh w l b ome Te rs t fi th i sy his QQ EE B h and s s aip h i dr w s whish= Fi u 1 s a Pla 9 a ari h s a aiiv n ihs m sh h sm ssh u tsd in as sisi hs with the nv tion the s q s sdihs mec ani m lso being F1i$l9 and Pa i 0 he figu bein bra es wa s s iiis ts size. a

Figure 2 is a s d s svs sn o the Pa sh stack dva s an m an th ass e ca on e din mesha: m shown n i u al pa t be br ken wa to re: duce the size of the figure.

Figure3 is a cross section through part of the mechanisms of Figure h Planes o e t on bein isai s by the line 3' 3 of Figure 1. s

Figure 4 is a c o s t on of pa t t me hanisms, the pl e o s t n e g i d a d y e lin v .Q Figure 2.

gu e 5 s a ross. se on, he p an of ses ic e n indicat d by'the line 5-:5 of. Figure '1.

Figure 6 is a c o e t on, the p ane indicated by the line 6 6 of- Figure 1.

Figure 7 is an isometric enlargement, parts being broken away, of one of the carton stack advancing elements.

While the carton stack advancing mechanism of the present invention can be embodied in a number of different ways depending upon the particular kind of carton with which 'it is to "be utilized and depending also upon other variable factors, it has successfully'been incorporated in connection With a high speed'carton feeding mechanism such as herein shown and described.

In the present instance, the carton stack advancing mechanism is primarily designed for use with cartons which do not necessarily rest in a substantially straight column, yet which must be handled expeditiously and consistently in order to insure of an uninterrupted supply of cartons to a continuously operating carton feeding mechanism. 'This is primarily for the reason that'the carton feeding mechanism with which the carton stack ad vancing mechanism is utilized operates at sustained high speed.

As shown in Figure 1, the structure includes a general framework 6 supporting a rotating .wheel'7 of a carton opening mechanism shown in a co-p'endi ng' application filed August 21, 1951 with Serial No. 242,951 by Charles E. Kerr, now Patent No. 2,765,715, dated Oct. 9, 1956, said wheel having a plurality .of carton holders 8 thereon. The rotation of the wheel 7 is effectuated by any suitable of section bein mechanism herein shown and described.

The-framework 6 has an extension that forms a table. 11 serving as a support for the base 12 of a carton magazine frame for the present carton stack advancing m echanis m. A pair of upstanding 'brackets l3' and-14 are removably secured to the magazine base 12. The brackets are elongated to provide side walls 15 and 16, the'side walls being in mirror symmetry about a central axis. The side walls extend substantially beyond the table :11 and in eral vconstitute the confin ng side Walls o the carto They a e provided wi h r maa l lqwzfria T11 he miser es is h! eiist Mined by s e wal i i-is s3 tails 7 a ain sash sfvhish is: 99-2 .2

the liners 15a and 16a of the side walls 15 and 16 on brackets 13 and 14.

with a supporting foot 19 extendingthrough a clamp boss 21 forming part of the magazine base 12 and held in vertically adjusted position therein by. a fastener 22., By appropriately setting the brackets 13 and 14 on the magazine base 12 to accommodate the lateral dimension of the carton and -by appropriately clamping the feet19 at an appropriate vertical height to accommodate the vertical dimension, cartons of anysize within setlimits can readily be held by themagazine. The collapsed cartons are arranged therein with the general plane of each carton in; a vertical direction and extending as nearly as may be transversely of the magazine. Thebottom edge of the carton rests upon the rods 17 and 18 so thatsubstantially the entire weight of the cartons is borne by said rods. The lateral confinement of the cartons is effectuated by close contactbetween the side edges of the cartons and the The' collapsed cartons, due to the extra thickness of their sealing seams tend in stacking to gradually build up on one side, so that each succeeding carton assumes a greater degreeof angularityorobliquity tothe axis of the carton magazine. Furthermore, aspointed out in our copending application aforementioned, the collapsed cartons, for the. reasons given therein, also tend'to spring into a concave shape. Therefore, a load for the magazine may will press against a carton column even though it is irregular.

In the normal replenishment of the carton magazine, the diminishing stack of collapsed cartons ahead of the presser pawls 26 and 27 is left intact, so that advancement of said stack within themagazine will continue undisturbed. Therefore, the fresh supply of collapsed cartons, in generally columnar arrangement and with the cartons preferably standing on their end flaps, is deposited within the carton magazine behind the inwardly extending presser pawls 26 and 27 and is pushed against the latter while they continue to advance. Then, while the operator holds the new charge of collapsed cartons upright he withdraws one of the carriages, as for example the carriage 30, by grasping the hand grip 39 of same and pulling it sufliciently beyond therear end of said new charge of collapsed cartons, so that the presser pawls 26 and 27 of not be a strictly rectilinearcolumn but tends rather to become a curved column irregularly spaced and unstable unless confined and specially handled. For the above and other reasons, the carton magazine is provided with a pair of presser pawls 26 and 27 on one side and a similar but independent pair of presser pawls on the other side. i a a As especially shown in Figure 7,each of the presser pawls such as 26 is appropriately curved and is mounted to swing into and out of the magazine over and under the walls -15 and-16, respectively. The movement is about the axis of a pivot bolt 28 extending through an ear 29 forming part of one of a pair of independent carriages 30 and 319- Since the carriages 30 and 31 on each side of the magazine are images,,the descriptionof one applies equally toth'e other. Each carriage has a generally flat body 32 around one edge of which springs 33 and 33' are hooked. These spn'ngs are arranged to bear against the presser pawls 26 and 27,respective y, to urge them toward the center of the carton magazines This inward movement of the pawls is stopped by flat extensions 34 and 34' on the pawls26 and 27which abut ribs 32a and.

32b, respectively, on the body 32. The pawls 26 and 27 can be depressed against the urgency 'of the springs 33 and 33' out of the space enclosed by the side walls 15 and 16 but normally are projected by said springs into alocation in rearward abutmentw'ith cartons disposed in the magazine framework- The carriages 30 and 31 slideior reciprocate onthe framework. To that end, each of the side walls 15 and 16 is provided with oppositely directed rails 35 and 35' defining grooves 36 and 36', respectively, in which pairs of anti-friction rollers 37, 38 and 37', 38" areconfined. The rollers are mounted .on the body 32 for rotation so that the entire carriage travels to and fro on the sidewalls in a rectilinear path. Each of the carriages is separately a movable either manually by; means of an upwardly extending handgrip 39 or may be arranged; to be normally urgedlongitudinally of the framework in the direction of the carton dischargecnd thereof. For the latter purpose a flexible cable 41 is at one end connected tothe body 32 and is trained over a grooved pulley 42 pivotally mounted on the adjacent bracket 13 or 14 as the case? may be. At its other, end the cable is secured to a weight 43; With this arrangement, either of the carriages with its pairof presser pawls 26 and 27 can be retracted by hand'to the extremity of the rails 35 and 35'n'and then can be released against cartonsput into the mag azine or both of the car- "riages can be simultaneously actuated by an operator and said carriage will clear said rear end. As the carriage 30 passes by the new charge of collapsed cartons, the presser pawls 26 and 27 of same are depressed and then spring in again immediately behind the rearmost carton. The retracted carriage 30 is then released to again advance under the urging of its weight 43, to thereby cause its presser pawls 26 and 27 to exert pressure upon and thus compact the entire column of collapsed cartons in the magazine, i. e., the cartons of the diminishing stack plus those of the fresh-supply. While the above is taking place, the carriage 31 with its presser pawls 26 and 27 has concurrently continued advancing the diminishing stack in the magazine. Following release of the carriage 30, the operator then grasps the hand grip 39 of the carriage 31 and'performs a similar operation with said carriage 31 and its presser pawls 26 and 27, as described above for the carriage 30, which latter with its presser pawls 26 and 27 meanwhile is acting upon the entire column of collapsed cartons in a manner to effect the continuing advancement of said column within the magazine.

Finally both pairs of presser pawls are engaged behind the newly extended carton column and both are effective upon the positioned cartons to urge the entire column in the magazine inwardly of the framework. .Ihis action occurs despite the fact that the last carton in the column may not be exactly perpendicular to the axis of the column and even though the cartons may be somewhat bowed and disposed at different distances from the framework on opposite sides. Since the separate pairs of presser pawls can engage immediately with the cartons and follow them as they are fed to the carton feeding device accommodation is made for the possibly irregular shape and disposition of the carton column, also for any angularity or obliquity. of the rearmost carton of the column.

From the above described carton replenishing operation, it. should be readily apparent that it is unnecessary for the operator to pay anyattention whatsoever to the diminishing stack of collapsed cartons, since, such stack is at all times being automatically and continuously advanced in alternation by either, the carriage 30 or the carriage 31. Further, it should also be obvious that backward toppling of the collapsed cartons or'a loosening of the same in the compacted diminishing stack cannot occur, since, such stack is under compression at all times by either thecarriage 30 or the carriage 31.

It is desired tofeed the collapsed cartons one at a time from the end of the column inboard of the'described framework, butthat action is sometimes hampered not only by adhesions between successive folded cartons but also by the curvature or concavity of the. cartons which do not readily yield-to the customary treatment. For that reason, a special feed arrangement is provided.

As shown in Figure 6, on theframework6 there is provided a drive shaft 50 having its axis disposed substantially vertically and arranged to revolve in journals '51 formed on a bracket 52 extending from the side wall y arranged to p r n ynch-m spt he same drive that rotates the wheel 7. j

The drive shaft 50 is designed to serve as a mounting for a swing frame 54. Included in the swing frame 54 is a pair of hubs 56 and 57. The swing frame is extended to an outboard fork 5.8. An adjusting screw 59 having a lock nut 61 not only engages the outboard fork on the swing frame but also engages with a web 62 forming part of the bracket 13. By this arrangement, when the screw 59 is disengaged from the web 62, the swing frame can be rotated about the axis of the shaft 50-toward and away from the bracket 13. These parts can be arranged either in close relationship for normal operation or can be swungapart for inspection or clean-v ing and the like. Ordinarily, the screw 59 is engaged and is adjusted so that the swing frame is substantially parallel to the transverse plane of the carton magazine and is arranged across the magazine and is in registry with but is slightly separated from one end of the maga,

zine to leave a space therebetween.

Mounted on the drive shaft 50 between the hubs 56 and 57 of the swing frame are sprockets 66 and 67 driven inunison with the drive shaft by set screws 68 engaging the shaft. Parallel conveyor chains 71 and 71' are trained about the sprockets 66 and 67 and are driven thereby. The chains are also trained around sprockets 72 and 73. These are rotatably mounted on a non: rotative shaft 74 having straddle-milled end portions 74a and 74b seated within bifurcate bearings 76 and 77 formed on the outboard fork 58 of the swing frame. Adjusting devices 78 and 79 carried by the straddle-milled end portions 74a and 74b serve to efiect adjustment of the shaft 74 relative to the outboard fork 58. The arrangement is such that when the drive shaft St) is revolved, the two chains 71 and 72 are advanced in unison. The adjustments 78 and 79 insure that the chains can be maintained at the proper tension. Since .the chain sprockets 66 and 67 are concentric with the mounting of the swing frame, the frame can be moved intovand out of operating position without interfering with the drive mechanism,

In accordance with the invention, each of'the chains 71 and 71 is provided at an appropriate interval, depending upon the timing arrangement of the mechanism, with one of a plurality of propulsion lugs 81 incorporated in the body of the chain and having a projecting hook 82 especially designed to engage the trailing edge of the leading carton from the column of cartons in" the carton magazine The direction of advance of the chains 71 and 71' is such that the tendency of the lugs 81 is to force a carton from the magazine toward the receiving wheel 7.

Disposed in the swing frame is a vacuum box 91, es-

pecially shown in Figures 3 and 4. The vacuum box is preferably defined by rectangularly disposed walls 92 integrally incorporated with the swing frame. Th vacubox walls 92 lead to a tubular connection 93 to which a flexible hose 94 is connected. The hose extends toany suitable source of moderate subatmospheric pressure or vacuum. The extent of the subatmospheric pressureis not particularly great being only snfiicient to draw an adjacent carton toward the vacuum box without holding the carton so securely that it cannot be simultaneously advanced by the lugs on the chain mechanism.

It is desired that a carton urged toward the vacuum box be maintained in a planar condition. This is'facilitated by the provision on the vacuum box of a grid 96 including a pair of coplanar side rails 97 and 98 extending transversely across the upper and lower end of the magazine in a plane in front of the general structure of the chains 71 and 71', but behind the tops of the hooked lugs 81. Supplementing the rails 97 and 98 in forming the grid 96 are rods 99 spanning one side of the box 91. These help to correct distortion of the container pressed against the grid by the vacuum and by the pairs of pawls 6 .6 .9 4 .1 the car a e .3 and Q that qrpeflip. ampus fpr r d p hsfi t the ei 3 Y Thi structure provides an arrangement in which the le exposed carton, even though displaced and deform d, flattened against the grid 96 and is consequently o e d in a perpendicular p ne and n nra y l n r h e n o at n, a dis n u shed f m a concave or distorted shape.

To assist in supporting a carton by contact with its lower edge as it approaches and leaves the grid, there is provided onthe framework a slide bar 100 mounted substantially coplanar with the rods 17 and 18' on an adjustable support 101.v The timing of the chains 71 and 71 is such with respect to the operation of the shaft 50 and with respect to the operation of the adjacent carton receiving wheel 7 that a pair of the hooked lugs 81 en.- sas t an app p a t m t h trailing; edg of the anon fl ten a ai st t e g d and t n o the ide a 1 s. he a ns d an e the h k d. u ad p e he ca te si ltane u l p m ns h i i tipna l ad p u ed b t e v m Without i p d fii pu AS s qn. a p nd f the a an in t n c ear r of the a e tu s Qi he grid, the s a pr p d ns vacuum release of that carton, and the vacuum then be; some e fect on the next sup r s flr p i he a t n m azine- .Eo ak sure hat n y one car 'at a m sdis: p ac d fr m e ma az ne- :th pape bpt p p he br c et 14 an h id 6 adi s abl defi ed y a s p ate 2 ecur d in p siting by a p ps Q rati 1 slots in the bracket 14. The effect of this arrangement is tha ther an b ef an n ervenin n n o Space 94 (F 4) hav n a dim n p ju t puf ai nt to pass a ca on of the thicknessbein pmp p ed nd fa tpusptell t p r t the pa e of mo e tha on c rt n a me h ad a pin rca n p si hrpl sh he' pen p 4 is further guided and propelled pn suant to the nvcntion, F r t eas n, e a e or .6 is pr ided th an. 1 psp n le 1 ca ry a pa r f a ed an knnflpd guide rolls 106. Inopposition to the rolls 106is a pair ,of rotatableguide' rolls 107. Each of the rolls 107 is carried-in one of-a pair of forked lever arms 108 secured y journal p ns 109 o app p i e ca s 1 11 e tendin from the hubs 56 and,5.7 of the swing frame.

-To provide variable spacing between the rolls 1116 and the rolls 107 so as to accommodate minor-irregular.- ities in the cartons being advanced, each lever 108 provided with an extension 112 -which bears against one end of a spring 113 that is seated against a projection 114 extending from the swing frame. The shaft with its rollers 106 is constantly driven at a speed that is appropriately related to the operational speed of the carton handling wheel 7 and the effect of the described mechanism is to. act as a further guide and driver for the cartons initially advanced by the chains 71 and 731 to carry them individually in succession and an @PPIopr-iate direction toward the mechanism 7.

By this. invention-there is afforded a structurethe usefulness and advantages. of which are manifold. The pr en n v lxeartop s ack advancing m chanism ha substantially eliminate all of 'thetdiflicul i s h re of r The novel, independently operable, carton stack advancing devices employed in conjunction with the carton stack holding magazine are effective to apply and direct pressure upon the carton stack where required,

.in the appended claims. I

described the invention, what we claim to distribute. pressure over an uneven surface of the stack, andfare particularly efiectiye when collapsed cartons having sealing. seams are being handled. In stacking this .type of carton, the extra thickness of the sealing'scam of same gradually buildsup on one side of thestack, thereby causing each succeeding collapsed cartonto assume an increasing degree of angularity or obliquity to the axis of the carton stack holding mag:-

azine. However, regardless of'the degree of angularity or obliquity assumed .by' the collapsed cartons, within reasonable limits the present stack advancing devices are capable of effectively maintaining the desired and required pressure-upon such collapsed carton stack. Furthermore, the stack advancing device, of the present invention, is particularly advantageous and especially elfective when ,employedj in and ,with a carton stack holdinglmagazine of the horizontally disposed type having a collapsed carton feeding mechanism at the carton rehigh speed, collapsed cartons from said magazinefiand feed same to a carton opening, filling and closing ma chine. A further advantageous "and beneficial feature of the present carton stack} advancing mechanism is that' the same may be effectively andjefiiciently employed ing mechanisms.

While we have embodiment'ot the present invention, it should be understood, however, that various changes and modifications maybe made in'the details thereof without departing from the spirit'andscope, of the invention as set forth with various types of high speed, collapsed carton feed- Having thus as'new and desire to protect by Letters Patent is: 1;. A carton *stack advancing mechanism comprising a carton agazme having a pair of parallelsupports,

moval endWhereof effective to individually remove, at

illustrated and described a preferred a carton ma gazine having spaced parallel side walls, a

carriage slidably mounted upon each of said side walls, presser pawls mountedupon'each of said carriages for movement into and out 'of said magazine and toward and away from each other, and means for urging said carriages individually to slide toward one end of said magazine at least one'of said carriages being retractable to a loading position independently of the other carriage. 4. A carton stack advancing mechanism comprising a carton magazine, a carriage slidably mounted upon each side of said magazine, carton advancing means mounted upon each of said carriages for movement into and out of said magazine and toward and away from each other, and means for urging said carriages individa pair of carriag'es, -eachcarriage being. mounted on.

one of said supports independently of the other carriage through-substantially the full length of the magazine, presserpawls mounted on said carriages for move- "ment .into and out of said magazine and toward and away from eachother, and means for urging said carriages individually toward one end of said magazine.

' 2'. A carton stack advancing mechanism comprising a carton magazine having a wall, tracks on the outside of said wall, a carriage movable along said tracks, means forurging said carriage toward one end of said magazine,

a pair of vertically spaced presserpawls, means mountingsaid presser pawls on said carriagefor movement into and out of said magazine above and below said wall in substantially horizontal planesgand springs for urging said presserpawls into said magazine, said pawls being arranged to engage the rear-most carton in the magazine at vertically spaced points as said carriage is moved toward said one end ofsaid magazine.

3. A carton stack advancing rnechanismcomprising ually to slide through the entire range'of movement thereof toward one end of said magazine.

5. A carton stack advancing mechanism comprising a carton magazine, independently operable stack advancing devices movably mounted upon said magazine and arranged for movement into and out of said magazine toward and away from each other, and means for urging said devices individually toward one end of said magazine, each ofsaid carriages being individually retractable to a loading position. a

6. A carton stack advancing mechanism comprising a carton magazine, two stack advancing devices slidably mounted upon said magazine, and means for independently urging each of said devices to slide toward one end of said magazine, at least one of said devices beingretractable to magazine-loading condition while the other of said devices remains in stack-advancing condition.

7. A carton stack advancing mechanism comprising a carton magazine having a pair of side walls, a track on the outside of each of said side walls, a carriage movable along each of said tracks, means for urging said carriages toward one end of said magazine, at least one of the carriages being individually retractable to a loading position, carton advancing means mounted upon saidcarriages for movement into and out of said magazine above and below said side walls, and means for urging said carton advancing means into said magazine.

8..A carton stack advancing mechanism comprising a carton magazine having a side wall, a track on the outside of said wall, a carriage movable along said track, means for urging said carriage toward one end of said magazine, a pair of presserpawls mounted on said carriage, one mounted above and the other mounted below said side wall for movement into and out of said magazine, and means for urging said presser pawls into said magazine.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,087,643 Cox Feb. 17, 1914 1,428,149 De Minico Sept. 5, 1922 1,592,796 Webster July 13, 1926 1,689,272 Young Oct; 30, 1928 1,783,912 Van der Pyl Dec. 2, 1930 2,291,010 Vergobbi July 28, 1942 

